Book Review: Neverland Falling

Fantasy. 404 Pages. 5 Stars

Synopsis:

Neverland is dying.
And it’s all Wendy’s fault.

Wendy’s parents have finally chosen her prospective husband, and her world is falling apart. So when the mysterious, handsome Peter invites Wendy and her little brothers to run away to a place called Neverland, she accepts.

At first, Neverland is more wonderful than anything Wendy could have imagined. So are the variety of interesting characters who live there, from the Lost Boys to the mermaids to the fae to the misunderstood privateer, Captain Jay. But as time rolls on, Wendy realizes that growing up might not be so bad…if she had the right person to do it with. The only problem is that in Neverland, growing up is forbidden. And the farther she gets from childhood, the more she endangers them all.

Unfortunately, when the fae decide she’s gone too far, both Peter and Wendy must decide where their love and loyalty lie and how far they’re willing to chase it. For if they’re not careful, Neverland and everyone in it will fall.

My Review:

Okay, so admittedly Peter Pan was never my first choice as a kid. I didn’t hate him or anything; I was just indifferent. But I think we all know by now that Fichter could put her name on a phone book for outer space and I’d buy it.

I really, really enjoyed the whimsical tone of this whole book. “Darling” is the exact word for this book. It truly felt like something out of the Peter Pan era and I loved that. I loved the language and the stylistic choices Fichter made that cultivated that tone and feeling. It felt like an original Peter Pan adventure! And yet, Fichter wove in deeper plots and teased out the themes in such an incredible way. She truly captured everything I always imagined Peter Pan’s story to be and more.

Furthermore, I have never seen Neverland in such vivid colors and imagination! I loved the freedom of creativity and imagination in Fichter’s Neverland. It was broken, but it was so beautiful. I honestly felt like I could fly right alongside Peter and Tink and Wendy, and that was so cool! I’m enchanted by this little story. It feels like a hidden gem, just waiting to be brushed off and discovered. (And I can’t wait to see how it progresses in the sequel—though I must admit I am not stoked about Peter banishing Wending, like, Fichter, what?!) I loved the different parts of Neverland that we got to see—Color Canyon, the Treehouse, the Neverstar Cave, and of course, my personal favorite, Mermaid Lagoon <3 The world was so full of color and imagination.

And I loved rural Ashland! Just as much! Like it was unnatural how much the opening of this story just made me feel right at home and so excited! I honestly can’t tell you why I loved seeing Wendy’s farm and little village as much as I did, but it was part of my favorite part of the book! I loved seeing her bent toward business and numbers and her passion for nurturing children and her love of stories! Wendy was such a darling character, pun totally intended! Her heart was so beautiful and I related to her passions and views and struggles. I loved her outlook on motherhood and her love for her family. And Peter! Oh! My word! The first chapter that opened in Peter’s head, I literally squealed! I did not expect to be in his head but boy did I love it! And my heart went out to him. It really did. He clearly faced the struggle of letting go and moving on and growing up. He walked that tightrope. And that is such a hard place to be in. It truly is. He was darling, too. He faced so many hard choices and shouldered such responsibility. I really, really hope…well, nevermind what I hope. I trust Fichter, but I’m just sayin’ don’t mess with muh boi!

I’m super invested in this Peter/Neverstar relationship. (And I’m obviously fangirling over a certain king who shall not be named appearing.) My brain wants to come up with so many solutions, but I’m terrified this is all going to end so horribly. I loved that Peter and Wendy were aged up and teetering on the cusp of adulthood. I thought that added so much more tension to the story. I also loved Jay! And I’m also sick to my stomach about his story cause I’m afraid I know how it ends (I would love to veer from the original here!). And Tink has long been my favorite thing about the Peter Pan world—and this Tink is, well, she is wholly spoiled! I’d have—well, we don’t need two Tinks in the story, so it’s probably a good thing I’m not there. Also, um, Nana! She was awesome! I loved Nana!!!

There’s so much careful balance and precarious teetering in this story! Ugh! I just want it all to work out okay and to be…I want both worlds! I want the childhood and the adulthood! I want the Ashland and the Neverland! I want to fly and I want to prepare for my life in the world responsibly. I want to save my best friend and save all the lost ones. But we just can’t. We can’t have both. Unless Fichter works a miracle. She’s hemmed us in on all sides and somethings going to have to give. Ugh, but why?! Okay, it’s all going to be okay. Maybe. Ugh.

This book felt like a piece of childhood that I never knew I had all wrapped up in that delightful, cozy, homey feel that you can’t quite hold onto for more than a moment. The contrast of childhood and adulthood was so beautifully portrayed. That struggle that we all face! The sinking, aching loss of innocence and childhood, of youth and playfulness, carefreeness, is beautifully pit against the ever-growing desire to become who you’re meant to be, to grow, and to grow up well. The yearning for things lost and things yet to come is incredible. I don’t know how Fichter managed to capture that. I can hardly put it into words myself. And that was the real magic of this story.

I could go on and on, but I’ll stop there. This was a very fun, imaginative, freeing story. It felt light as stardust and magical as mermaids. Everything about it embodied just the right ideas. It was whimsical, adventurous, heart-wrenching, and lovable all at once. It was the perfect little bit of childhood with a daring dash of romance and a heaping helping of trouble! The stakes are high! Neverland is Falling and it isn’t going to get any better when book two is Breaking Neverland *tears*

Book 0.5 (a novella) in the Classical Kingdoms series is The Green-Eyed Prince (4 Stars)

Book 1 is Before Beauty (5 Stars)

Book 2 is Blinding Beauty (5 Stars)

Book 3 is Beauty Beheld (5 Stars)

Book 4 is Girl in the Red Hood (4 Stars)

Book 5 is Silent Mermaid (5 Stars)

Book 6 is Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers (5 Stars)

Book 7 is A Curse of Gems (5 Stars)

Book 9 is Breaking Neverland (5 Stars)

Book 10 is The Sentinel’s Song (4 Stars)

Book 11 is The Seven Years Princess (5 Stars)

I have read and rated the above on Goodreads. Check out the links for more info.

The Becoming Beauty trilogy should be read in order; however, the others are technically stand-alones. That said, I’d still read them in order since there is some crossover between characters.

Here is a picture of the reading order as posted by the author: